Solar Battery vs Generator: Which Is Best for Backup Power?

The need for backup power in Monterey Bay has drastically increased over the years as severe weather and blackouts have become a more common occurrence. Many homeowners in the area looking for a source for backup power find themselves stuck in a decision between solar batteries and generators.

At Premo Solar, we want you to have reliable power in your home or business, no matter what’s happening outside or with the electrical grid. Keep reading to take a look at solar battery backup vs generators and determine the best backup power for your home. 

How Solar Battery Backup & Generators Work

Solar batteries store the excess electricity that your residential or commercial panels generate, but they actually don’t have to connect to solar panels at all. Battery backup systems can also be connected to the electrical grid and recharge from there. Stored energy can be used on several occasions, like during costly peak hours from the grid or in the event of a power outage. 

During a power outage, your on-grid solar panels will automatically disconnect as a safety precaution for the frontline workers. This leaves you without power no matter what time of day it is. However, a backup battery system will temporarily disconnect your home from the grid, so you can continue generating and using electricity.

Generators, on the other hand, create electricity by burning fossil fuels, like propane or natural gas. They come in a wide variety of models, offering partial or whole-home solutions that can also sometimes detect when there is an outage and automatically turn on to power your home. 

Solar Battery Pros & Cons

There are several advantages that solar batteries have over generators, such as:

• Low operating costs – Sunlight is free, meaning after your battery backup system is installed, there’s no added cost of fuel to keep it running when the grid goes down. 
• Reliable power – Battery backup systems will automatically turn on when they detect an outage in your area. Many models, like the Tesla Powerwall, can also be manually turned on with the press of an in-app button. 
• Quiet operation – Solar batteries operate silently, which is untrue for any gas generator.
• Eligible for incentives – Battery backup systems qualify for both the Solar Tax Credit and the Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP) in California, making them more affordable than ever. 

However, solar batteries also come with a few downsides as well:

• More expensive – Before solar incentives are taken into account, battery backup can be much more expensive than generators.
• Limited capacity – In order to power your whole home from a solar battery, it can require multiple systems depending on your energy usage.

Generator Pros & Cons

Generators have a few advantages over solar batteries:

• Lower installation cost – Generators are much more common than solar batteries, meaning they are cheaper and easier to find.
• Flexible sizing – Generators come in both partial and whole home options, with just about everything in between.

However, there are several cons to generators when compared to solar batteries:

• Environmental impact – Burning fossil fuels is known to have a negative impact on the environment, contributing to climate change and greenhouse gas emissions.
• Dependent on fuel – While solar batteries only need the sun in the sky to operate, generators require fuel. This can pose a problem during an extreme weather event. The ongoing need for fuel can also end up burning a hole in your pocket too with increasing gas prices. 
• Noisy operation – Generators are loud when in use, which can cause a disturbance for your family.
• No incentives – Unlike solar batteries, generators do not qualify for incentives to make them more affordable. 

Premo Solar: Your Trusted Solar Battery Installer on the Central Coast

Whether you’re interested in installing solar panels on your home or business, or are just looking for a reliable alternative to a generator, Premo Solar can help get you the backup power you need. We only install the highest quality battery backup systems, like Enphase batteries or the Tesla Powerwall. Our energy experts can evaluate your usage and help determine the best solution for either partial or whole home solutions. 

Ready to get started with a clean and efficient backup power? Reach out to our team today.

Schedule your free solar battery backup quote. Call 831-901-3352 or contact us online.